University of Michigan Transplant Center celebrates 50th anniversary with ice cream social

1:42 PM, Jun 1, 2014

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) - The University of Michigan Transplant Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

More than 500 people are expected to attend a special ice cream social at the Crisler Center Victors Hall and Patio. The event runs Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Among those expected to be there are Janice Ottenbacher Schroeder and Joan Ottenbacher Teltow. They are the identical twins who were the donor and recipient in the first transplant operation conducted at the center in 1964.

During the operation, Joan donated a kidney to Janice. At the time they were just 15-years-old. Now they are both healthy and thriving mothers and grandmothers.

Both women also spent their careers working as nurses.

Since that first transplant, the University of Michigan Transplant Center has conducted more than 10,000 transplants, including more than 1,000 on pediatric patients.

Today's event is free and open to the public. It will include remarks by the twins. Their speeches are scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Copyright 2014 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.